Thanks to Peldor again for pre-reading/corrections
The song used here can be found at http: / youtube dot com / watch?vhhHMI0mFZ0 (remove the extra spaces between the / 's)
Chapter 13
Merida Island Listening Station
The technician on duty noticed an unusual signal broadcasting from and being received to the island, specifically to the A.S. hanger. After tracking the signal to a particular machine, she notified the officer of the day. Now normally they would take action to stop or prevent such transmissions, but because of the A.S. involved, that was changed to a different SOP (Standard Operating Procedures). The officer logged the transmission into the duty log and following procedure notified higher command. Now due to the procedures set in place, all inquires about the A.S. in question were to be directed to a very short list of people. One Captain, a Commander, a Lieutenant Commander, and strangely a lowly Sergeant. Once the base commander was notified of which machine was involved, again following SOP notified the Tautha Da Dannan Commander.
After a hurried conference on board, he received his orders. Take "Absolutely NO action to interfere." Next "Give the A.S all the bandwidth it wanted, even if it interfered with base communications." The only exception to this was for emergency and/or critical messages. Also "Any computer or surveillance records it wanted were to be allowed immediately" Other then making sure that it did not try to leave the hanger "Leave the A.S. strictly the hell alone."
Meanwhile back at the safe house.
Grabbing Sousukes body armor, she started pulling pouches off and attaching them to hers. She stuck with the "nonlethal" ordinance, flash-bangs, smoke grenades, first aid kits, leaving the lethal stuff behind. Snatching a holster and magazine pouches for the .380 she attached them to her armor. She then tossed Sousuke's armor into the passenger seat.
"Eleanor, I need some help with all these weapons. Think you can help." she asked.
"Certainly, Kaname. However, because of my positioning I am unable to 'see' in the compartment. I will need you to lift the rear seat. Underneath you will find a webcam. Plug this in to a USB port in the glove box and position it so I can observe."
Once Kaname did as asked, she went back to the compartment and looked around. Reaching in, she pulled out what looked like a weird rifle with a huge bore. "OK what about this."
"That is an Auto Assault-12 (AA-12) full-auto shotgun. There should be both 8 round box magazines and 20 round drums. Capable of firing 300 rounds a minute, it is light with almost no recoil and capable of laying down an impressive amount of fire. Using double ought buckshot; there would be almost no need to aim. Simply point and shoot, an excellent choice for you."
"How hard is it to use?"
"Not very, simply insert a loaded drum, pull the bolt to the rear and release it, flip the safety, then pull the trigger. However it does take practice to allow you to change the magazine or drum quickly. I would suggest using a 20 round drum and having 1 extra on hand. Be aware that although it has little recoil, the weapon is very loud"
With an evil grin, Kaname looked over at the webcam she had set on the trunk. "I'm not worried about loud Eleanor. After being around Sousuke as long as I have, I've gotten used to loud." Looking back into the compartment she pulled out 2 drums and continued talking. "As a matter of fact, I'm counting on loud. I've seen what Sousuke calls 'Shock and Awe'. Loud has a tendency to either make people keep their heads down or run. Either way I don't care, as long as their out of our way." she growled.
Drawing the BDA 380, she held it up to the webcam. "Here's the handgun I'm going to use. Sousuke's given me some training with it, so I'm keeping it. Other then these two I'm not sure what else I can use. What do you think?"
Quickly scanning the files for the contents, Eleanor directed Kaname over to a different section of the armory. Opening an ammo box, she saw what looked like shotgun shells contained within. Picking up one she noticed it was grey and had red bands and lettering, she asked. "OK what am I looking at?"
"KANAME, be VERY careful with everything you find in those boxes. Each one is a special ordinance for a 12 gauge shotgun. The one you are holding contains a riot control agent. In other words, tear gas. There are gas masks in a different box."
Glancing at the cam with a deaths head grin, gripping the shell, she responded. "Eleanor, you're evil, I like the way you think. What else is in here?"
"The rest of the ordinance should not be used as they are either wide area lethal or you run a greater risk of injuring Sergeant Sagara. He has been exposed to CS gas before and will realize that a rescue is happening. If he is functional he will be able to respond appropriately. Once he is in the car, I can blow the rear window giving him nearly a 180 degree arc of fire to prevent pursuit. With this in mind I would suggest you set the M 32 MGL (Mark 32 Multiple-shot Grenade Launcher) in the back seat, with several drums. Do you see it? It had a large bore and 2 pistol grips with a revolver type drum underneath."
"Yeah, I found it." She said, picking the indicated weapon, looking at it a bit awestruck. Shaking her head, she muttered to herself. "Only Sousuke."
"OK, now for the shot gun, I use 1 or 2 of those box magazines with tear gas, right?"
There was a short pause before the A.I. answered. "Kaname, how strong are you?"
Puzzled by the seemingly 'out of the blue' question, Kaname responded. "I don't really know, pretty strong for a girl. Why?"
"If you look back near the rifles, you will see one that is short, with a pistol style grip. Do you see it?"
She picked up the weapon indicated and held it up for the 'cam. "This one? Yeah, what about it?"
"That is a Mossberg Model 500 Persuader. At 75 cm (29.5 in) and weighing 2.5 kilos (5.5 lbs) it has a capacity of 6 rounds plus 1 in the chamber. The only problem is the recoil. Sergeant Major Mao would say it 'kicks like a mule'. It can literally jump out of your hands. Do you think you can hold on to it?"
Kaname looked down at the shotgun in her hands, pondering the weapon she was holding, when she had a feeling of déjà vu. It took her a moment before she recognized where she it came from. "Eleanor, this looks like the weapon that Arbalest uses."
"Basically it is, Kaname. The Bofors used by the ARX7 and the M9s is essentially a scaled up version of a pump shotgun, with the main differences being that the Mossberg uses 12 gauge shot and the Bofors fires 57 mm HE rounds and DU Penetrators."
"OK, but why are we talking about this? I mean, I'm already going to use the big shotgun. Why do I need this one?"
"Because I was going to suggest, rather then trying to change magazines on the AA12, load the Mossberg with the CS rounds. That way there will be no confusion as to what rounds you have loaded. The AA12 will be lethal and the Mossberg will be for personnel suppression. Also this will save time because you will not have to reload and change ammunition in the AA12. Does this make sense?"
"Yeah it does. But how would I carry both this and the double A12."
"Look on top of the Mossberg near the back, you should see a small ring. You attach a lanyard through the ring hook the other end to your armor. The AA12 has a harness that attaches to the armor as well. This will allow you to 'drop' one and grab the other without losing either of them. In a way you are lucky, Kaname."
"Oh really, and just how did you come to that conclusion?"
"Because of the way this mission is going to go, you will not have to carry as much. You will not have to carry your own water, food, or as much ammunition as a normal Soldier going on a patrol. You will be able to leave behind all, but the ammunition you have to have. The items mentioned add considerable weight to a normal load-out."
"I guess your right about that. Is there anywhere we can fire the shotgun? I would rather find out now if I can shoot it." Kaname said while she worked quickly gathering ammo and weapons.
When she received no response she glanced over her shoulder to the 'cam. "Eleanor?"
"One moment please, Kaname. Processing, processing. Kaname, using the information provided by Al and working with him, we believe we have a fairly accurate idea of where Sergeant Sagara is being held. Once Al and I knew who the enemy was it was a simple matter to find out their cell phone numbers, once the phones where in use we were able to tie into them and monitor their voice transmissions. The evidence collected will not be admissible in court, because it was collected without a warrant. But for our purposes it will more then suffice."
"OH Thank God, where is he?"
I'm a soldier, znachit ya (I'm a soldier, meaning that I'm)
I otvyetchik i sud'ya (Both the defendent and the judge)
Ya stoyu na dvukh kontsakh ogny (I'm standing on both sides of the fire)
aOgibaya virazhi (Going around turns)
obgonyaya smyert' i zhizn' (overtaking death and life)
Ya byegu srazit'sya s tyen'yu lzhi (I'm running to fight with the shadow of a lie)
skol'ko b nityey nye plyol obmam (No matter how many threads deception would weave)
pokazhyet lik svyeta istina (Truth will show its face of light)
"I have located him in a warehouse located approximately 50 Kilometers (31 Miles) from our present location."
"Give me a few more minutes and I'll be finished here." Kaname replied to the A.I. while she finished loading pouches on her armor.
Save your tears
for the day
when our pain is far behind
on your feetcome with me
we are soldiers stand or die
Save your fears
take your place
save them for the judgement day
fast and free
follow me
time to make the sacrifice
we rise or fall
At the suggestion of the A.I., she grabbed a helmet that Sousuke had thoughtfully provided and sized for her. She also set a cam/mic/ear bud set for communications with Eleanor and Al, as well as a couple of gasmasks. She also tossed the M 32 MGL (Mark 32 Multiple-shot Grenade Launcher) and several magazines for it containing either H.E. (High Explosive), C.S. (Riot Control), Incendiary or Anti-Personnel Rounds into the back seat.
I'm a soldier, born to stand
in this waking hell I am
witnessing more than I can compute
pray myself we don't forget
lies, betrayed and the oppressed
please give me the strength to be the truth
people facing the fire together
if we don't, we'll lose all we have found
She had already loaded the Mossberg with the C.S Rounds and had a bandolier of the Riot Control Shells. She was REALLY going to enjoy using those. They might not kill the Yakuza, but the Yakuza would probably wish that they had. She had found out the hard way that Tear Gas was no joke, after Sousuke had used it to stop the Rugby team from getting out of control one time, and she had gotten caught in the crossfire. She really laid him out that day. After she had stopped her nose from dripping and her eyes cleared, of course. She now knew why people ran away in riots she had seen on the News.
Save your tears
for the day
when our pain is far behind
on your feetcome with me
we are soldiers stand or die
Save your fears
take your place
save them for the judgement day
fast and free
follow me
time to make the sacrifice
we rise or fall
At a suggestion relayed from Al through Eleanor, Kaname looked into a cabinet located on the wall. Inside she found tools of various kinds. From here she took a pair of wire cutters to use if Sousuke had been secured using 'Zip-Ties'. From another cabinet she got a set of handcuff keys, and retractable key holders to attach to her harness. She secured the cutters to one and the keys to the other, as well as a light Tanto style knife. She distinctly remembered Sousuke commenting once about how "A knife is not a weapon. It is a tool that can be used as a weapon." She also loaded a strange and special piece of equipment. When the two A.I.s told her what is was and how they meant for her to use it she almost lost it. But she couldn't argue with the reasoning they applied to the problem. That didn't mean she had to like it.
Za myechtoyu nakray propasti (After a dream to the edge of a chasm)
Lish' tol'ko tak mozhno mir spastic (Only that way can the world be saved)
Ty nye plach' (Don't you cry)
Slyozy spryach (Hide the tears,)
Ved' nastanyet novyy den' (Because a new day will start)
Tvoy ogon',Sogryevat' (Your fire,Will be heated)
Budyet tysyachi syerdets (By thousands of hearts)
A syeychas podnimis' (But now get up)
Spryach' podal'shye bol' i strakh, (Hide the pain and fear far)
Pobyedit tot, kto prav,Znay, (The one who's right will win)
chto vsyo v tvoikh rukakh (Know that everything is in your hands)
Once she had the equipment loaded, she climbed into the drivers seat, started the 500 C.I.D behemoth, opened the door and pulled the car out into the fading light of the day. All told it had taken three hours for her to get everything ready. She had pondered, thought and wept. Now she was PISSED.
She had come full circle in her emotions for the young Soldier she was going to get. The last three hours had been an eye opener for her. She already knew how far he would go for her. He would die for her, live for her and even kill for her if it was needed.
Save your tears
for the day
when our pain is far behind
on your feetcome with me
we are soldiers stand or die
Save your fears
take your place
save them for the judgement day
fast and free
follow me
time to make the sacrifice
we rise or fall
She had found within herself that she could do no less.